Posted!

Join the Conversation

Comments

Welcome to our new and improved comments, which are for subscribers only.
This is a test to see whether we can improve the experience for you.
You do not need a Facebook profile to participate.

You will need to register before adding a comment.
Typed comments will be lost if you are not logged in.

Please be polite.
It's OK to disagree with someone's ideas, but personal attacks, insults, threats, hate speech, advocating violence and other violations can result in a ban.
If you see comments in violation of our community guidelines, please report them.

Why Dominick Giudice committed to Michigan football without even visiting campus

That childhood dream is what allowed Giudice, a three-star defensive end, to take what others might perceive as a leap of faith by announcing his college choice without ever meeting his future coaches or touring campus — and during a nationwide shutdown due to the coronavirus outbreak, too.

Mater Dei’s Dominick Giudice picks up a blocked punt and carries it in for a touchdown. Mater Dei football vs Pinelands on August 30, 2018 in Middletown, NJ.
(Photo: Peter Ackerman)

Growing up in New Jersey, Giudice often caught U-M games on television. He enjoyed its brand of "hard-nosed football."

"That’s the way that I describe my game, just playing hard-nosed football, being a scrappy player," he said. "I just thought that I fit well with what they do and I like the way they play old-school style football.”

One week ago, defensive line coach Shaun Nua reached out to Giudice and said that he really liked Giudice's tape. Michigan scheduled a phone call with Giudice for Wednesday, during which he spoke with Nua and defensive coordinator Don Brown.

“They seemed like high-intensity guys, guys that I want to play for," he said. "Coach Brown is a very upbeat guy, all the coaches are very upbeat guys. I’m an old-school player. I like smacking people in the mouth. That’s what I do. That’s what they seem like.

"Also, not only do they have top football, but I’m also looking for great academics, and that’s what they have. It fit very well.”

After he got off the call with the coaches, Giudice talked things over with his family. There was no hesitation: Everyone knew the time was right for Giudice to see his dream through.

“We were all united," he said. "They just know that’s it’s always been something I’ve worked for since I was a little kid. We all just prayed about it and thought that it was the right time to make that decision.”

Later that day, Giudice called the staff back, this time speaking with coach Jim Harbaugh, Brown and Nua, and let them know that he was picking the Wolverines.

"They were going crazy," he said. "Same as our end. We were all going nuts together. It was a good time.”

For now, Giudice is waiting out the coronavirus outbreak. Once it's safe to, he plans to visit Ann Arbor for the first time. He'll get a chance to meet the coaches — and realize his new reality, one he has been working toward for more than a decade.

“It happened quickly, but Michigan’s always been my dream school," Giudice said. "I could’ve been offered by anyone, but until Michigan offered me, I would’ve done the same thing. It’s been my dream school from Day 1.”